Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer projects
Project funds are received from UQ, Trailblazer and industry to advance innovative research ideas, progress technology readiness and support commercialisation pathways.
Current projects
Managing waste and pollution from mining with live covers and super plants
Key researchers
Industry partner
- Evolution Mining
Aims and objectives
The aim is to develop a novel time and cost-effective process for scaling up the rehabilitation of tailings and mine waste, using a combination of a novel hybrid soil cover system and resilient species of plants referred to herein as ‘superplants.’ All mine residue, across the globe, requires the reestablishment of soil and vegetation covers. Some sites have adopted a preferred cover design based on models that are not always validated by field trials. Our scale-up approach aims to minimise the risk of cover failures by incorporating superplants into a live cover system, therefore de-risking the progressive rehabilitation and closure plans.
New Economy Mineral Testing Technology
Key researchers
Industry partner
- JK Tech
Aims and objectives
This project commercialises UQ’s small-scale (~200 kg/h) processing circuit, enabling mining companies to prototype innovative flowsheets for new economy minerals. It supports low-energy, low-emission extraction methods and helps de-risk processes critical to the energy transition, filling a gap in industry testing capabilities. As rising metal demand and declining grades drive up energy use, emissions, and tailings, this innovation supports profitability while enhancing ESG performance. Mining companies can test flowsheets faster and earlier in project development, reducing processing footprints and improving sustainability.
Percrystallisation Technology Demonstration and Hydrometallurgy Capacity
Key researchers
- Associate Professor James Vaughan
- Dr Julius Motuzas
Aims and objectives
This project aims to demonstrate novel percrystallisation technology in a scaled-up pilot reactor which can be operated continuously for extended periods of time, derisking technology commercialisation. The demonstration of percrystallisation is a step towards commercialisation of this new processing technology which is significantly more productive than conventional evaporative crystallisation. There are exciting opportunities to deploy the technology for zero-liquid discharge applications and in production of metal salts, relevant to the processing of critical minerals into valuable metal products.
Producing HPA from Kaolin
Key researchers
Industry partners
- Gallium Qld
- K2HPA Pty Ltd
Aims and objectives
This project is testing a new method of making high purity alumina (needed in advanced electronics and batteries) using cheap and abundant clay minerals rather than rarer aluminium ores. The project aims to develop the means to produce HPA from abundant and easily mined kaolin as opposed to rarer and more valuable bauxite.
Vanadium Catalyst Recycling
Key researchers
Industry partner
- QEM
Aims and objectives
A process for recycling vanadium from spent sulphuric acid plant catalyst was developed and piloted at laboratory scale. 100g of high purity V205 was produced from the spent catalyst. The next stage of the project will be to further optimise the process, test different catalyst feed, and demonstrate all steps at a larger scale. This will inform technical-economic analysis and design of a pilot plant. With Australia categorising Vanadium as a Critical Mineral and currently not having any domestic production yet, this project could be the first to domestically produce Vanadium until the larger mines are in production. This early source of Vanadium would help establish a battery manufacturing industry and attract foreign companies to bring their technology to Australia.
Battery Metal Solution Purification
Key researchers
Industry partner
- Lanxess
Aims and objectives
The project objective is to develop process for nickel sulfate solution purification using Lanxess adsorbent material. Granular adsorbents are marketed by technology supplying companies such as Lanxess. These functional materials are of increasing importance in hydrometallurgical solution purification, enabling high purity products to be recovered. In this project, experimental reactors will be constructed and assembled to be able to test adsorbent performance in batch and continuous process mode. The performance of the materials will be evaluated for multiple applications (e.g. preparation of solutions for high purity nickel sulfate, nickel hydroxide and zeolite product recovery).
Preliminary technical economic analysis suggests that adsorption of Si using granular adsorbent is much less expensive than evaporative precipitation of silicates, provided the adsorbent can be regenerated and reused. This technology will address a challenge in creating high purity nickel sulfate and nickel hydroxide from silicate containing ore feed or from intermediate products precipitated with silicate (Mixed Ni-Co Hydroxide Precipitated with Naturally Sourced MgO).